Anti-Foreign Ed Law

NEITHER RHYME  NOR  REASON

NEW LAW ON EDUCATION IN RUSSIA PASSED

By Stephen Wilson

 

A new law on Education aimed at curbing 'the negative impact of foreign influence' on Russian Education was passed on the First of June despite massive opposition from Russian academics, educators and scientists indicated by a petition against the law signed by a 1/4 of a million people as well as opposition from 1700 academics.

  

The Law on Education which is designed to control the influence of foreign intervention under the guise of educational activities came into effect on the First of June. It had been previously signed by President Putin in April. The law is primary aimed to strictly control the perceived negative influence of foreign intervention in the informal spheres of education and culture. The aim of the law is to determine who has the right to teach by insisting on special permission from the state as well as a license required before say giving a lecture or holding a workshop. It also means that Russian academics will need to complete much more paperwork if they seek to invite foreign academics to Russia or begin new International projects. This new law has provoked furious criticism and debate in Russia as well as widening fears of a return to the years of repression where Russians were afraid of having anything to do with foreigners.

 

The Law is largely the brainchild of Andrei Ardadevich Klimov who has claimed that such a law is urgently required to combat the pernicious influence of 'totalitarian sects' who would 'cut off the heads of those who argue against them' as well as 'harmful foreign influence' via social networks which have an impact on impressionable school children and students. The stated aim is to limit the control of 'anti Russian propaganda' on the minds of school children and students under the pretext of education. The laws also states that 'The purpose aims to forbid educational activities which incite social, racial, national and religious discord'. The law claims to be aimed at protecting traditional Russian values of the family, religion, view of history and the achievements by Russians in science, technology and culture.

This is not how the opposition sees things. They regard this control as a threat to freedom of speech, discussion and academic freedom.

 

What the law actually means is that no one can give a lecture, talk or organize any cultural and educational activity without special permission from the Ministry of Education and science. What this entails is filling in countless documents and obtaining a license where the applicant has to explain the contents of every talk and lecture. It means that both formal and informal organizations have to think twice before inviting a foreigner to give an innocuous talk or speech about his language or culture. It also entails that a Yoga instructor won't legally be able to give a workshop in a park or at a festival or someone organize master classes in storytelling on the  spurious grounds that this is 'an educational activity'. Even a member of the establishment party of United Russia and a member of the Duma, Natalie Pokloskaya, strongly opposes this new law! She stated, "To regulate absolutely all human activities of contemporary man means to limit his development and movement forward. Access to knowledge and freedom of expression in a discussion is a facet of any modern society ... I consider that people have the right to different opinions." 

Natalie Pokloskaya stated she was implacably against labeling anyone who disagrees with an opinion 'Anti-government', 'a traitor' or 'a foreign agent'. A Doctor of Law Professor Mikhail Fedotov declared that the passing of this law "confirms the quality of law today is of very poor quality. Not only is it poorly drafted and written, but the meaning of words vague and highly ambiguous. It is riddled with poor definitions as well as contradictions." He further stated that, "The intention of this law is simple: to exclude foreign influence on intelligent people. But to do this you would have to fly to the moon: there we don't have any foreign governments. But here we have neighbors. And we are all objectively interested in investors, technology and the achievements in culture which come to us from abroad. Unfortunately, those people who formulated this law prefer to ignore the real demands of countries." He states it is unclear what is meant by the words 'to agitate' and 'make propaganda'.

 

Attempts to limit, curb and in deed, eradicate the influence of foreign culture on Russians is not without precedent. In the 17th Century some Russians complained of how foreigners were encouraging people to smoke tobacco, dance and read dangerous books. The revolt of the Streltsy in 1698 aimed to destroy the German Sloboda where all the foreigners resided in Moscow. Following the Great Patriotic War Stalin launched an anti-Cosmopolitan campaign. A Russian who inadvertently was witnessed speaking to a foreigner in Russia could find himself under arrest and imprisoned. Anyone who has lived in Russia for some time can hardly fail to notice how so many older people feel afraid or awkward about speaking to foreigners. I met one Russian who would whisper to me and insist in meeting me in secluded spaces in 1993 while I worked in Kishinev. I at first thought he was unbalanced until I was informed about how sound his reservations really were. I also met a writer who told me that he had been arrested and detained for going to a Jazz club. Jazz was considered to be 'a bad foreign influence'. I think the vast majority of Russians don't wish to return to those absurd times.

 

Just as this law has been passed the Tretyakovskaya Gallery has been hosting an Art Exhibition which explores the deep links between German and Russian Romantic artists. It is a superb example of Russian and German cooperation. The exhibition is called 'Dreams of Freedom. Romanticism in Russia and Germany'. It is okay to dream of freedom but another thing to practice it ! Well dream on..

 

It is worth reading the following in relation to this law which I acknowledge as sources.

 

Театрал Май 2021 N 5{190} Автор Екатерина Сивцова 'Михаил Федотов

Качества Принимаемых законов сегодня очень Низкое'

 

Совершенно Секретно Апрель 2021 N 04  [463]

Буспросветный Закон Ирина Доронина